Weft replenishing loom



Feb. 3, 1953 A. c. KRUKONIS ET AL WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1950 INVENTORS ALEXANDER G. KRUKONIS WALTER H. WAKEFIELD V 62 m we ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1953 A. c. KRUKONIS ET AL 2,627,235

WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed May 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGB 92- INVENTORS ALEXANDER C. KRUKONIS WALTER H. WAKEFIELD ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED ISTATFEjS PATENT OFFICE Alexander (J. Krukonis, Auburn, and Walter .H. Wakefield, Worcester, .Mass., assignors to iCrompton .& ,Knowles .LoomWorks, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application Matydfi, 1950, Serial.Nio.1164,172

.14 .Glaims (01. 139-231) This invention .relates to wett :replenishing loomsand it is the general .object of the invention to provide improved means for .rrevoking :a previously called bobbin transferring :operation if ithe shuttle .is improperly placed :toreceive 'a :bobbin.

. Multicolor ,weftreplenishing looms igenerally [employ ;a reserve bobbin magazine :includingdn .its construction a setting shaft :positiuely 'con- 'nected to l a. shuttle position detector, aas-transierrer .latch :moved positively by 'theshattiin one :direc- .tion only, namely, toward transfer position, :and bobbin releasing :andshatt setting members hav- .ing .an :initial :setting without moving the shaft when weft exhaustion :is indicated :and subseiquently having: a second or setting motion to mock the shaft and .cause Z'ittO move the \detector to shuttle detecting position :and the. latch .into the .path of the lay. If the shuttle improperly. placed :bobbin transfer ioccurs monmallytwiththellayrand ilatch imutually engagedjor a .period startingbefore and :continuing after :tront .0811128]? until :the lay in its rearward motionsmovesiawayirom.zthe

latch. "Elhe =lay when approaching .front reenter iengages ltheideteotorand movesiitiback toiitsznor- :mell position, :thusreturning the :shaft to its anormal position 'to reset :the magazine during the period of engagement :of :the lay .and :la'tch.

if the :shuttle is imisplacediand :engag'es itheide- .tector as thellay heats .up the shaft isiresetiearlier in the .loom :cycle :before the .layJreaches'azpQsii- .tion where the aforesaidiperiod could start. lUnder thESBiCOllditiQHSiit would be desirable to have a positive connection between the detectoriand latch tomove the latter :promptly outoi Lthepath of the lay, butsince the transferrer ilatch iSlELlways engaged with the layratsfrontcenter during a replenishing .operatiomcand this;is LthE normal time for-resetting, it has not been possible in the past to :establish a positive connection .between the usual shuttle position detector :and the transferrer latch. :Such connections as .have abeen used .merely :remove a support whichholds the latch sin transfer position to :permit it to :f-all :with the expectation that it will drop out ofithe path of the :lay. latch does motel-ways move ifast enough, however, to clear "the lay, with the-resuit that .weitreplenishing operations sometimes occur when the shuttle is improperly placed, which event either the "bobbin or shuttle will be damaged.

Weit replenishing looms of the type to which the invention more particularlyrelatesordinarily have theweft feeler rat the :magazine end and the replenishing operation occurs a two pick cycle. If indication of weft-exhaustion isgiven at the beginning of the first pick of the cycle a controller interrupts the normally idle-downward motion of an actuator leverfioating on an actuator and causes the lever, :acting in conjunction with a so-called'color slide, to raise one of the previously mentioned setting members to 'give the magazine an initial setting. The actuatorisicontrolled by a eam which .in the :past .has been made with an area which gives the actuator its full downward motion immediately after the Weft feeler has had time todetectthe conditioner-weft and when thelayzis in the lattergpart of the same range ofmotion itlhas-during the aforesaidperiod of lay andlatch engagement.

The shuttle is then picked to theoppositelend of the loom and before it returns to the magazine end the cam, acting through the actuator, causes the lever andcolor slide to-give :thepreviously raised setting member a;return.or setting motion which moves the shaft to transfer position, thus giving the magazine its complete setting for transfer. This complete-settingis e-iiected by another :part or area :of the :cam in the second pick of :thescycle.

Itis an important :object of the presentiinven- .tion to modify the operation of previously :known multicolor weft replenishing mechanisms by delaying completion of the down :motion of the actuator on detecting beats of the loom .untilafter the lay .in its :rearward motionfrom front center has reached the point which itocc'upies when the dagger .on the "lay becomes disengaged .from the latch on a weft replenishing beat of "the loom, and utilize this delayed down motion to reset the magazine later than heretofore and at a time when the latch is free to respond to a force exertecl on it positively by the shaft as the latter is returned or reset to its normal position. "-Ihis result is accomplished by changing the first cam area already mentioned in either of two waysas set forth hereinafter so thatitcausesthe actuator to complete itsdown motion later than has been common practice heretofore. With this change in the cam it is possible to use the previously mentioned positive connections to the latch and a slight amount of movement of the s'huttleposition detector by a misplaced shuttle will suffice tomove a transfer latchpositivelyout-of the path of the lay and prevent an undesired replenishing operation.

The weft 'feeler operates when the lay-is --on front center, but the actuator as set forth herein cannotgive the magazine its initialsetti-ng until the lay has moved rearwardly an appreciable-distance greater than has been common practice heretofore. It is a further object of the invention to provide for holding the indication of the weft feeler until the actuator can move to utilize the indication. In the preferred form of the invention this is accomplished by giving the actuator a preliminary down motion which is just sufficient to effect cooperation or non-cooperation, as the case may be, between the actuator lever and the controller, after which the actuator will dwell briefly and then have its completed down motion which is preferably larger than its preliminary motion. The area of the cam which is in control of the actuator during this operation has a slight decline to produce the first preliminary down motion of the actuator, a dwell following the slight decline, and then a larger decline which completes the down motion of the actuator.

When an electrical weft feeler is utilized, as in the modified form of the invention, provision is made for retaining the indication of weft exhaustion by a holding circuit until it can be utilized by the actuator lever. The holding circuit may be opened by some part of the magazine which preferably does not have a regularly recurring motion, such as the color slide, when it is lifting one of the setting members. In this modified form the entire down motion of the actuator associated with weft detection can be' accomplished by a simple cam decline corresponding approximately to the second decline of the preferred cam.

'In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example two embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section of part of a weft replenishing loom having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto looking toward the reserve bobbin magazine and showing the parts in normal position with the lay on front center,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed plan looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1, the rod connecting the setting shaft and shuttle detector being shown in cross section,

- Fig. 4 is a detail plan looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detailed side view looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 2, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing the actuator, the preferred form of twopick cam, and certain of the parts associated with them in different positions,

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the cam used in the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the modified form of the invention,

Fig. 11 is a view similar to part of Fig. 1 showing the normally closed switch which is opened by the color slide to break the holding circuit used with the modified form,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the cam used with the modified form, and

Fig. 13 is a diagram of the electric circuit used with the modified form.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a loom frame I supports top and bottom shafts 2 and 3, respectively, connected by gears 4 and 5 which are in such ratio that the bottom shaft rotates once for every two rotations of the top shaft. The latter shaft reciprocates the lay L in a back and forth direction between front and back center positions once for each pick or beat of the loom. The lay, which is shown in its extreme front center position in Fig. 1, has a shuttle box 6 to receive a shuttle S and is provided with a bunter 1.

Secured to the loom frame I is a multistack reserve bobbin magazine M which in the present instance can accommodate four vertical stacks of reserve bobbins (not shown). Vertical bobbin releasers or setting members It, II, I2 and I3 are mounted on the magazine M for vertical reciprocation. Each releaser is associated with a bobbin controlling cradle a part of one of which is indicated at I4. Each releaser or setting member IUI3 is provided with top and bottom lugs I5 and I6, respectively, for cooperation with a color slide designated generally at I1. This color slide includes a shaft 88 slidably mounted horizontally on the magazine M under control of a positioning lever I9 connected to some part of the loom moving in timed relation with the shifting shuttle boxes (not shown) at the opposite end of the loom.

Secured to shaft I8 is a casting 20 having front and back lifter and depressor fingers 2I and 22, respectively, which register one at a time with the releasers IIl-I3, depending upon the position of lever I9. A lever 25 mounted for pivotal movement on rod I8 is the means by which the color slide is rocked for the purpose. of raising and lowering the releasers IIlI 3. The lever 25 is connected by depending rod 25 to the left end of a floating operating or actuator lever 21 pivoted as at 28 to an actuator 29. The latter reciprocates vertically in a stationary guide 3|] and is connected at its bottom to'an actuator rod 3| the lower end of which is pivoted to a cam lever 32 rockable about a stationary pivot 33. As viewed in Fig. 1 the rear end of lever 32 has a roll 34 which fits into a groove 35 of a cam designated generally at C. The cam is secured to and rotates with the bottom shaft 3 in a two-pick cycle.

A mechanical weft feeler mechanism F detects the condition of weft on alternate beats of the loom when the shuttle S is in the box 6 and the lay is at or near its front center position. This feeler cooperates with an arm 36 secured to a rock shaft 31 mounted in a stationary stand 38. The left end of rock shaft 31 as viewed in Fig. 2 has secured thereto an upstanding arm 39 pivoted to the forward end of a. controller pin 45 slidable backwardly and forwardly in the stand 38 to occupy two diiferent positions with respect to the right end 4| of lever 21. This end of lever 21 is guided for up and down motion in a vertical slot 42 in stand 38. A torsion spring 43 acts on shaft 31 in a direction tending to move the controller pin 40 rearwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, under lever 21.

The weft feeler F has an upright lug 44 for engagement by a stud 45 on transfer mechanism designated generally at T. The transfer mechanism includes an arm 43 pivoted on a stationary'stud 41 and having depending arms or fingers 48 to which is pivoted a t-ransferrer latch 49 swingable about a pivot 59 on the arms 48.

Mounted for rocking movement in the upper part of the magazine is a setting shaft 55 having secured thereto a casting 56 formed with a shelf or bar 51 which extends horizontally for cooperation with the setting members Ill-I3. Secured to shaft 55 is an arm 58 carrying a swivel .block :59 :slidable .in :a .slot .60 on a yieldsing ilock lever -;6l .rockable about a stationary istud .62. .A compression spring .63 ,opera ively :interposed between lever .GI and swivel59 serves ".to hold the setting shaft 5.5..andbar 51 yieldingly in :either ,of two positions as determined by stop sscrews .64. As shown 1111 Fig. 2 the shaft .55, :bar 51 and .springlock are :intheirnormal po- "sitions.

. .The upper .end of each setting :member .has pivoted thereto .a :dog '65 acted on 'by a compres- -SiQI1iISDl n 6.6 interposed between the dog and the :top of the member. ,A spring plunger 61 :CQODEI'fitES with each .releaser to hold .the latter yieldingly .either in its normal down 'posiitiOIl or in vitsraised position when the magazine is given an initial setting-incident to indication of weft exhaustion by the weft feeler F.

.Ashuttle position detector "It is secured asla :H to .a carrier J2 :pivotod on a stationary stud 13 and .having an arm "M pivoted as at T5 to the lower end .of .a rod 75. The upper end of :the latter .rod is pivoted to an arm '11 secured to the rear end of the shaft .55. The back 18 of .the .shuttle box has .a slot .19 which registers with .the detector .16 .to permit the latter to remain down as the lay heats :up when the magazine is set :for :a transfer operation. The pur- .pose iof the shuttle :position detector is to revoke a previously called replenishing operation .in the event that the shuttle S is improperly placed to receive a bobbin.

When the parts are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the weft feeler indicates ample weft in the shuttle being detected it will be moved forwardly and move controller :pin 49 forwardly out of lthe'path of end 41 of lever 21. The latter will :then have an idle down motion as the actuator 29 descends from its neutral position, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. If, however, the weft feeler indicates weft exhaustion the shaft 31 will not be moved and controller pin 48 will remain under lever 27 to become a pivot around which the actuator lever turnsto depress rod 26 and rock the color slide in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, to engage the top lug of the releaser or setting member registered therewith and lift the latter for an initial settingof the magazine. When areleaser rises its dog will turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 to overhang the bar=.5'l.

l The initial setting of the magazine occurs during the first pick of the two-pick cycle of the actuator without causing angular motion of the setting shaft 55. On the next pick of the cycle, the actuator will rise from its mid position and end 4! of lever 21, being held down by a pin 58 stationary in stand 38, will cause rod 26 to rise to rock the color slide in the 0D- pcsite directionto lower the raised setting member, provided there has been no change of shuttles at the opposite end of the loom. As the setting member is lowered or returned to its normal position its dog engagesbar 5'! and rocks the setting shaft 55 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, to lower the shuttle position detector to its detecting position by a force transmitted through rod To. At the same time a bobbin is released from the associated bobbin stack, and the latch 49 will rise into the path of hunter 1 as will be described hereinafter. If in the foregoing operation a different shuttle had returned to the magazine end the color slide would have :moved out .of register with :the raised :settin member, but upon return of the empty shuttle the raised setting member would be lowered in the second pickiof .a two-pick cycle.

Thematter thus far described, except as noted in the .description tofollow, is of common construction and operates in the usual .twoapick cycle wherein initial setting of the magazine coccurs "in :the first .pick of the cycle and the completed setting occurs in the second pick.

As has already .beencstated, when the magezine is :fully set for a replenishing operation, a bobbin :will be transferred if the shuttle is properly placed in the shuttle box, but if the shuttle is misplaced it will raise the shuttle'position detector In to rock the shaft 55 to reset it to itsnormal position and thereby revoke the transferring operation. In the past this revoking operation has not been entirely satisfacztory for'reasons already mentioned.

Incarrying the present invention'into effect'the .transferrer latch is positively connected to the setting shaft55 by means of a rod Bil pivotedat .18! :to a .part of the latch forward of the latch pivot Thcupperend of rod 3G is pivoted at 1182 .toaheadcofi .pivotedatd i to an arm secured toshaft 55. Normally this rod 86 will'be raised .aspshown in Fig. 2, but when shaft 55 is rocked .to its transfer position by downward motion of one :or anotherof the setting members 10-! 3the rod 3?} will be lowered and the latch 49 will be lifted into the path of the hunter! at a time when :the lay isaconsiderabledistancebehindthe front .center position. If the shuttle is misplaced it lifts the shuttle detector is as the lay beats up and lifts rod 16 .to reset shaft 55 to its normal position. Rod Bil is thereupon lifted to rock the transferrer latch 45 downout of the path of the hunter 7 by a positively acting force. By this positive connection between the shuttle detector, theshaft 55, and the latch 49, assurance isgiven that a replenishing operation will be prevented by a small amount of upward motion of theshuttle detector it when the latter is engaged by a misplaced shuttle.

if the called replenishing operation is not re- WTGkBd but .prcceedsin normal manner the hunter i and latch so will be in "mutual engagement for a-period of lay motion starting during the latter part .of a two-pick cycle when the lay is moving forwardly and continuing into the first pick of the next two-pick cy-cle-untilthe lay "on itsrearward stroke pullsthe hunter away from the latch. The lay is on its front center position duringthis period, and resetting of the top shaft 55 and the accompanying return of the shuttle detectorand latch to their normal positions must be delayed until after :the aforesaid period of engagement between the hunter and latch. This delay is accomplished in the preferred form of the invention by the cam C.

The cam C has two areas A and B, separated bydwells Di and D2- Area A is in control of the actuator 29 during part at least of the first pick of a two-pick cycle starting when the weft feeler has a weft detecting "operation, dwell D'I holds the actuator stationary inmid position for an interval inwhich lever IQ'can shift the color slide if required to do so, area B controls the actuator during part of the second pick of the cycle, and dwell D2 again holds the actuator stationary in mid position at the end of the cycle. Cam C turns in the direction of arrow n, Fig. 9, and. its halves Pi and P2 correspond,respectively, to'the first andsecond picks 10f the twoepickcycle.

Area A includes a preliminary decline a followed by a dwell b which in turn is followed by a second or completed decline preferably deeper or larger than decline a. A return incline d leads from decline 0 to dwell Di. Area B has an operating incline e leading from dwell Dl to a return decline ending at dwell D2. The latter dwell is not very important and can be omitted, but dwell DI is significant, although it need not be longer than is sufficient to hold the actuator 29 in its mid or neutral position while the color slide shifts its registry relatively to the vertical setting members 16-43. In the past cams for the actuator have had dwells similar to dwell Di except that they were longer than necessary. The decline a, dwell b, and larger decline 0 are the important parts of area A in the preferred form of the invention, and the other parts of cam C may be a usual except for the shortened length of dwell D-l.

At the start of a two-pick cycle with the shuttle in the box 6 and the lay on front center the weft feeler F wiil detect the condition of weft in the shuttle and will determine the position of controller pin it. At this time decline a of area A comes into control of the replenishing mechanism and causes a slight preliminary down motion of the actuator 29 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7. If the weft feeler has indicated presence of ample weft controller pin to will beforward of slot 152 and the actuator o during thi first preliminary down motion will move the actuator lever 21 to the full line position shown in Fig. 7 behind pin to prevent it from returning to a position under the lever.

Dwell 1) holds the actuator and lever 2? in the full line; position of '7 until the lay in its backward motion has reached at least the point at which the hunter l becomes disengaged from the latch 59 subsequent to a weft replenishing operabetween the hunter and the latch continues into the next two-pick cycle of the cam C and dwell b is of such length that it will remain in control of roll 34 until the end of the period. From this it will be seen that the greater part of the down motion of the actuator 29 occurs at regularly recurring two-pick intervals when the hunter is too far behind front center to be able to engage the latch and at times when the latter will be free to respond to any force exerted upon it from the top or setting shaft 55.

As thus far described the shuffle position detector will be in its down or transfer position and the latch will be raised in its transfer position because of the fact that shaft is still locked tion. Decline c then comes into control of the actuator 29 and gives it a completed down motion to the position shown in Fig. 8, the pin 48 not having any efiect on this normally idle motion of lever 21. The return incline (i then lifts the actuator to its mid position, as in Fig. 2, and dwell Di takes over control of the actuator. These operations effected by area A occur during the first pick of the two-pick cycle.

As the cam continues to turn area B will move lever 27 as already described, but since the feeler has not indicated weft exhaustion no releaser or setting member iii-43 will be raised. The various movements of the actuator occur at regularly recurring two-pick intervals.

If the detector gives indication of weft exhaustion at the start of a two-pick cycle then controller pin til will remain under the right end 1! of lever 2? and as the actuator 29 has its short preliminary down motion lever 2'! will rock to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7. This may effect a slight but inconsequential upward motion of the setting member lt-li registered with the color slide. Lever 22? will remain in the dotted line position of Fig. '5 until the actuator starts its completed down motion, at which time lever 27 will move to the dotted line position, Fig. 8, and the releaser member registered with the color slide will be raised to initiate a weft replenishing operation. In the next pick of the cycle area B will complete the settin of the magazine for transfer, after which the lay as it moves forwardly will engage the transferrer latch and remain in engagement with it for the previously mentioned period of lay motion.

The latter part of the period of engagement yieldingly in its transfer or set position. It is necessary that the magazine be reset before the lay next reaches its front center position, otherwise the transferrer arm will be operated again and prevent the feeler F from giving indication of Weft exhaustion if such indication should be necessary due to presence of another shuttle in box 6. The resetting mechanism is shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 to 8.

Extending laterally from the actuator 29 is an arm 9d pivoted at 9! to the lower end of a resetting rod 92 the upper end of which is formed witha slot 93 into which extends a stud 94 on an arm $5 secured as at 96 to the setting shaft 55.

When the actuator 29 is in its neutral position and the magazine i in its normal unset position the slot 93 and stud M will be positioned with respect to each other as shown in Fig. 2, and as the actuator moves down for its preliminary motion the rod 92 will descend slightly, and as the actuator has completed its down motion the rod 92 will descend still farther. At this time the stud 96 will be near the top of the slot 93, but preferably not in actual engagement with the upper end of the rod 92. As the actuator 29 returns to it normal or neutral position and is then raised by area B rod 92 will rise and the bottom of slot 93 will approach stud 94, but the latter will not be engaged by the rod. These are the operations of the slot and stud when the 7. As the actuator has its next down motion,

,. particularly the part due to cam decline a, the

end of rod 92 will move the stud 94 down, see Fig. 8, and thus return the setting shaft 55 to its normal position to effect return of shuttle detector ill to its normal raised position and return of the latch to its normal down position out of the path of the lay. This resetting does not occur until after the latch is disengaged from the hunter.

Some weft replenishing looms of the type already described employ a form of weft feeler in which the controller pin to is normally out of the path of the right end 4! of the actuator lever 2? and is moved into the path of the latter only upon indication of weft exhaustion. When a feeler of this type is used and indicates weft exhaustion the preliminary down motion of the lever 23 caused by decline a will cause the lever 2'! frictionally to hold the rear end of the pin 49, after which initial setting of the magazine is effected when area c effects completed down ace-need motion of the'actuator. Weft detectors operated in this manner may be-either mechanical or electrical, th electrical type operating with a solenoid controlling the pin 40 and the solenoid being energized only when indication of weft exhaustion is given.

Electrical weft detectors, however, need not necessarily be used with the cam decline'a and dwell b, since the delay between indication by the feeler and down motion of the actuator can be effected electrically, as by a holding'circuit. The modified form of the invention is adapted more particularly to an electrically indicating weft feeler operating with a holding circuit, whether the feeler be electro-mechanical or of the usual two-prong type. In this modified form the cam for the actuator is somewhat simpler than the cam used with the mechanically indicating feeler used in the preferred form.

Referring particularly to Fig; 10, a controller pin I will normallybe forward ofthe path of the actuator lever 21 and will be controlled by a solenoid IOI normally deenergized buteifective' when energized to move the controller pin under lever 21.

The casing 20 of the color slide will have the usual bar I02 formed as part thereof to have sliding relation with respect to the lever 25. A normally closed electric switch I03 has an operating arm I04 for engagement with the bar I02 to open the switch when the color slide rocks to initiate a replenishing operation. Switch I03 may be mounted on a small stand I05secured as at I06 to some stationary part of the magazine M, see Fig; 11.

The cam CI will be made as indicated in Fig. 12 and the parts DI, e, j and D2 thereof may be thesame as in cam C. Cam CI, however, has a third dwell D3 which takes over control of the actuator at the start of a two-pick cycle and is in effect a continuation of the dwell D2. As shown in Fig. 12 dwell D3 is a part of area AI. The remainder of area AI includes a single decline g and a return incline h. The dwell D3 maintains the actuator 29 stationary until the lay in its rearward motion reaches a point corresponding to the end of the aforesaidl period of engagement between the lay hunter and latch,

after which the decline g moves the actuator down with a single stroke. In effect; the decline g and incline it may be similar to corresponding parts of previously used cams on multicolor weft replenishing looms except forv their location which in this modified form of the invention causes them to come into control of the actuator 29 later in the two-pick cycle than in former practice. As in the preferred form, the two halves PI and P2 of cam CI correspond to the first and second picks, respectively, of the two-pick cycle of the modified cam.

Fig. 13 shows diagrammatically the electric circuits which can be used with the modified form of the invention, the weft feeler Ilil being shown as of the two-prong type to cooperate with a ferrule Iii on the bobbin when the latter is depleted of weft. ever, that the invention will operate with other types of electrically indicating weft feelers and it will be sufiicient if the feeler closes a detectcircuit when the depleted shuttle is at the magazine end and the lay is at front center.

As long as ample weft is present the weft feeler will not indicate and pin Iii!) will remain out of the path of the lever 2'6. When the weft feeler indicates weft exhaustion it'will" close the feeler It should be understood, how

circuit as follows: Ground G, wire 2-, weft :feeler' I I0, wire II3, relay I I4, wire I I5, normally closed electric switch l03, wires I16 and Ill, secondary H8 of an electric transformer T, and wire H9 back to the ground. This circuit will be'closed when the lay is at front center and the cam lever roll 34 is in a position approximatelybetween dwells D2 and D3 at the beginning of pick PI of a two-pick cycle.

When the relay is energized it closes two contacts I20 and I 21, the first of which closes the following holding circuit: Ground G, wire [22, contact I20, wire I23, and thence through the relay, switch I03; and transformer back to the ground. This holding circuit maintains the relay energized after the lay moves rearwardly from front center and the shuttle is no longer able to'keep the detector circuit closed.

Closure of contact IZi will close the following solenoid circuit: Ground; wire I25, solenoid IOI wire I26, contact I2I and thence through thetransformer back to the ground. This solenoid circuit will be closed as soon as the relay respondsto closure of'the detecting circuit and will remain closed to hold pin I00under lever 21 as longas the relay holding circuit is closed. These three circuits will be closed at about the time the cam lever roll 34 enters the dwell D3, and the holding and solenoid circuits will remain closed until switch I03- is opened. As the decline g'takes overcontrol of the actuator 29 the latter will descend to give themagazine an initial setting when the lay in its rearward motion has passed beyond the point where the hunter 1 can possibly engage the latch 49.

Near the end of the rocking motion of the color slide caused by lever 2! as decline 9 lowers actuator29'the-bar I02 will engagearm I04 and open the normally closed switch I03; thereby opening the relay holding circuit with resultant openingof contacts I20 and I2I. The solenoid'thereupon becomes deenergized, but at this time the actuator lever 21 will be exerting a downward force on the control pin I00 and will hold it .frictionally against forward motion by a lightweight return spring I 2'! which acts normally to hold the controller pin I00 in its forward nonindicating position when the solenoid is deenergized. After the magazine M has been initially set as just described the completed set* ting will occur as described for the preferredform.

Switch I03 is opened only when the color slide rocks to initiate a weft replenishing operation and is not subject to constant opening and closing during loom operation. It opens preferably during the first pick of the two-pick cycle and spring I2I- moves pin I00 to its normal forward position when the actuator returns to its neutral position, and there is no chance that an indication of weft exhaustion for one two-pick cycle can be carried over into the next cycle.

In the modified form the magazine will be reset essentially the same as in the preferred I form except that the resetting operation will be effected by'a single down motion of the actuator instead of the two-step motion of the preferred form. In the modified form, as it is true also in the preferred form, bobbin transfer results in'forward motion of the weft feeler to a position in which it cannot indicate weft exhaustion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple means by which the usual multicolor weft replenishing mechanism can be modified so as to permit the use of a positive connection between the shaft 55 and the transferrer latch 49. This positive connection insures greater certainty in the revoking operation and can be used due to the fact that the down motion of the actuator is used to reset the magazine at a time when the lay cannot be in engagement with the transferrer latch.

In the preferred form the preliminary down motion of the actuator 2E effected by decline a holds Whatever relation the feeler establishes between the actuator lever member and the controller member, this relation depending upon whether the shuttle being detected has ample weft, or requires replenishment, and the completed down motion of the actuator effected by area comes at a time when the magazine can be reset with assurance that the hunter will always be out of engagement with the latch. In the modified form the delay between indication of weft exhaustion and down motion of the actuator is effected by a holding circuit for the relay, and this holding circuit is opened by rocking of the color slide when a replenishing operation is initiated. The cam areas A and A! perform the dual function of moving the actuator first to initiate a weft replenishing operation in one two-pick cycle and then resetting the magazine during the next two-pick cycle. As shown herein the shaft 55 is positively connected to both the shuttle feeler ill and the transferrer latch, but it will be sufficient for the purposes of the invention if the detector and latch are connected in a train of positively acting elements which move to and from transfer position in unison, so long as provision is made for returning the shaft 55 to its normal position after a replenishing operation is called.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications of the foregoing specific disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay, weft replenishing mechanism including a latch normally out of the path of the lay but which is engaged with the lay for a given period during a weft replenishing operation, said replenishing mechanism incident to a replenishing operation having first an initial setting operation on one pick of the loom and second a completed setting operation on the next pick of the loom preparatory to a replenishing operation and third a resetting operation on the third pick of the loom. to return the replenishing mechanism to normal condition, a cam effecting said setting and resetting operations rotating in a two-pick cycle and having two areas the first of which at the beginning of said two-pick cycle effects the first setting operation upon indication of weft exhaustion, the second area of the cam effective during the second pick of the cycle to cause the second setting operation of the replenishing mechanism, and said first area during the first pick of the next two-pick cycle effecting the third operation of the mechanism subsequent to said period. to the end that the first setting operation and the resetting operation are both effected by the same area of said cam.

2. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay and bobbin transfer mechanism normally disconnected from the lay, a weft feeler capable of indicating weft exhaustion at the beginning of a two-pick cycle of the loom, a cam operating in said two-pick cycle having two areas the first of 12 which is effective in the first pick of the cyclein the event that the weft feeler indicates weft exhaustion to initiate a replenishing operation and the second area of which during the second pick I of the cycle effects movement of the transfer mechanism into position for cooperation with the lay, the transfer mechanism and lay being thereafter normally in engagement for a given period starting near the end of one two-pick cycle and extending into the beginning of the nest twopick cycle, a shuttle detector positively connected to said transfer mechanism to revoke a transferring operation prior to the time when said period can start by moving the transfer mechanism out of position for cooperation with the lay, and mechanism operated by said first area of the cam during said next two-pick cycle subsequent to said period to reset the transfer mechanism to normal position. I

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a transfer latch which when in normal position is out of the path of the lay, a shuttle position detector positively connected to said latch and normally in non-detecting position, weft replenishing mechanism having an initial setting on one pick of the loom incident to indication of weft exhaustion and thereafter having a completed setting on the second pick of the loom to move the latch into the path of the lay and move the detector to shuttle detecting position preparatory to a weft replenishing operation, the latch and lay being operatively connected subsequent to said completed setting for a given period ending when the lay reaches a given point in the rearward movement thereof after a replenishing operation, said detector if engaged by a misplaced shuttle positively moving the latch out of the path of the lay to prevent a replenishing operation, cam means rotatin in a two pick cycle having two areas the first of which in said one pick of the loom effects said initial setting of the replenishing mechanism upon indication of weft exhaustion in the first pick of a two-pick and the second area of which in said second pick of the m effects said completed setting of the weft replenishing mechanism in the second pick of the cycle, and mechanism causing said first area to be effective in the first pick of the next two-pick cycle subsequent to said period to reset the replenishing mechanism to normal-position and effect return of the latch and detector to the normal positions thereof.

4. In a weft replenishing loom in which a lay and bobbin transfer mechanism. are mutually engaged during a weft replenishing operation for a period of the lay motion starting during a forward motion of the lay and ending when the lay in the following rearward movement thereof reaches a given point, an actuator mounted for sliding movement on the loom, a cam operating in a two-pick cycle operatively connected to the actuator and having two areas, one area for one pick of the cycle and the other area for the second pick of the cycle, said one area of the cam giving the actuator motions in one direction at regularly recurring two-pick intervals when the lay in the rearward movement thereof is beyond said given point and said other area of the cam giving the actuator other motions in the opposite directions alternating with the first motions and also occurring at two-pick intervals, means dependent upon indication of weft exhaustion cooperating with said actuator when the latter has one of the first mentioned motions thereof initiating a setting of the loom for a weft replenishing. operation;. said means: and1 actuator cooperating when: the latter has-one-o'l the.- sec-- ond; mentioned; motions thereof to complete the setting of the loom for a replenishing,operation, the lay and latch. thereafter being-normally mutually engaged for. saidperiod, resettingzmecha n'isnr operated by said actuator when.- the: latter has the next of. said. first motions thereof fol lowing a weft replenishing: operation eifective toreset the. loom, ashuttle position detector, and positively acting. connections betweeni said shut.- tle detector: and saidtransfer mechanism. on fective if said shuttle: detector is movedby amisplaced shuttle prior to the. time when said.- period can begin to prevent a replenishing operation by moving said bobbin transferring mechanismto inoperative position with respect to the. lay by a forcetransmitted positively through saidpositively acting connections 5. In a. Weft replenishing loomi having a lay,

a. train. of positively connected mechanisms in-' cluding ashuttle position-detector inznon-detecting position and, a transferrer. latch. out of the pathof the lay when-said trainis-in the normal, position thereof, actuator means: operating; reg.- ularly in. two-pick cycles. moving in one; direct tion during. the first pick-z of eaclrcycle. andrmoving inthe opposite. direction in the second. pick of each cycle'andiefiective upon indication'of Weft exhaustion and. during. the second. piclr of given two-pickcycle'to. cause. movement. ofthe train to the'transfer position. thereof; in. which. the. detector is in shuttle detecting position and the latch is in the path. of. the. lay preparatory to a weft replenishingoperationofi the loom, the latch in. the event that i at weft replenishing. operation is completed. remaining. in. engagement withthe lay until the latter reaches a. given point in. the

rearward movement thereof immediately after a replenishing operation, the detector. in the event ofmovement'thereof by a misplaced. shuttle-when intransfer position positively moving thevlatoh out of the path of the lay, and=mechanism operated by said actuator means during the-firstipick. of. the two-pick cyclenext following said given: two-pick cycle after. the layhas passed; said. given point in the rearward: movement thereof: sub sequent to'a replenishing operationito. returnsaid: train to the normal position. thereon 6. In. a, weft replenishing: loom. which. when. having a completed setting. for. at replenishing. op. eration. moves; a. shuttle position detector from. normal. non-detecting: position toshuttle detecting. position. and. moves a transferrer. latch.nor-- mally out. of the. path; of the lay intothe. path: of. thellay, positively acting connections betweenthe detector an latch moving the. latter out of the path of. the lay. in'theevent-that the-detector is. moved bya misplaced shuttle, actuator. means: operating. regularly in two-pickcy-cles; movinginone direction in the first-pick: of eachcycle and in. the opposite direction in the. second. pick of each cycle and effectiveduring thesecond: pick of a given two-pick cycle iollowingaprior indication. of. weft exhaustionlto give the 100m said completed. setting, and; mechanism operated the. actuator means on. the first pick. of: theqnext. two-pick cycle after said givencycle subsequent: to disengagement of the lay'and latch: incident to a replenishing operation to move theld'etector and latch back to the normal positicnsxthereof...

7 In a weft replenishing. locm havingia' layandi a train of positively connected elements includa ing a shuttle position detector in non-detecting 14 of: the: lay" when: the train. is; hr normal. position; said trainbeinamoyable: to transfer position; in: which thedetectoristinshuttledetecting-position. and" the latch. is. in. the. pathof the. lay, an actui ator. operating in. a: two-pick. cycle moving" in opposite; directionsifrom a neutral position there-- of, said actuator: when moving in one direction.

from. the neutralpos'iticn. thereof in onev-pickcof': the; cycle effective upon. indication of Weft ex:- haustion: to; give' the. 10cm an initial setting" pre paratory: to. a. replenishing operation; and when moving: inltheopposite direction-from. the neutral. positiorrthereoi in the second, pick of. the; cycle: effective: to; give: the. loom. a completed. setting forzareplenishing'.operatiorrandeifect movement;

ofisaid train to. theltransfer positionthereolhand: a. lost: motion connectionbetweenlsaid train and. actuator enablingthe. actuator to. move in said. opposite directions. from. the. neutral. position thereof. without. affecting: said. train: when the lat.--- ter: is; in. normal. position but effecting return: or said; train from. the transfer; position to. thesnor.

mal position. thereof ,.providedithe. loomhas; been.

given a. completed. setting, when. the actuator: moves in. said; one. direction; im the next. two-pick. cycle.- thereof;

81. In.a1weft replenishing lcomhaving may and a setting. shaft connected; to a' shuttle position. detector and' a. transferrer. latch. for; movement. positively therewith; from normal position. to transfer: position: and. back. to; normal. position;. the detector. being innon-detecting position and. the: latchi being. out. of. the: path of the lay when: the. shaft is. in normal; position and the: detector: being: inshuttled'etecting positionand the latch. being. in: the: path: of; the lay when theslraft: isiins .transferpositioman actuator cperatingjin: a twopick cycle: moving. in opposite: directions: from; a neutral positionzthereoffand:when movingin one direction. from. said: neutral position inone pick of the cycle; effective upon indication of Weft exehaustion'. to; give. the. loom an initial setting preparatory" to. a: weft, replenishing operation and" when. moving in; the: opposite direction from. saidneutral positioni in: the next/picker the cycle effective: to; give. said loom a completed" setting fora replenishing; operation: and cause. movementiof' said: shaft from: the normal to the." transfer: position: thereon. and resetting means operatively' interposed? betweeni the actuator and. the: shaft including: a: lost motion. connection whereby said actuator canrhareisaid.opposite motionsthereof from1saidsneutrai positionawithout operative efieci; on theshaft sozlona as'the latteris'inthe'normal position thereof: butefiective; when said shaftiis inithe. transfer. positionlthereofand said actuator has-said one: motion; thereof; in the: next: two-pick: cycle thereof 'to'nreturnrthe setting shaft to. normal. position...

9. In: aweft replenishingrloomihaving a lay and a transferrer latchtwhichz incidentito a weit'i replenishin'g. operation? is in; engagement with. the: lay. untillthe latterreaches=agiven point i'nxthe; rearward; motioni thereof: immediately following: a replenishing operation, a train of positively connected. mechanisms including a shuttle: positionidetector and saidztransferrer'latch, the detector. being. in. non-detecting position. and the; latch beingiout. of; the pathaof the lay when the; trainiisein.normalposition, a: weftfeeler detecting; thercondition'of:weft'when:the lay ision frontcenters at the beginning: of; aregularly. recurring twopick cycleof 13118100111; an actuator lever member,

a controller member-fertile lever member under position and atr-ansferrer latch out of the path. 75'. control of the=feeler',.the latter when indicatingw weft exhaustion causing said controller member to be in the path of the lever member and the feeler when indicating presence of ample weft causing the controller member to be out of the path of the lever member, a cam rotating once in each of said two-pick cycles having one area for one pick and a second area for the second pick of each cycle, said one area having a step eifecting a preliminary motion of the lever member at the beginning of each two-pick cycle to move the lever member to a position in which the controller member is unable to be in the lever member path if the feeler indicates presence of ample weft, the controller member being in the path of the lever member when the latter has said preliminary motion if the feeler indicates weft exhaustion, said one area having a dwell holding the lever member against motion subsequent to said preliminary motion thereof until the lay in the backward movement thereof 1 reaches said given point, and said one area having another step effective after the lay passes said given point'to give the lever member an additional motion effective, in the event the feeler indicates weft exhaustion, to give the loom an initial setting preparatory to a replenishing operation, said second area of the cam in the second pick of the cycle effecting a completed setting of the loom for a replenishing operation by moving said train to move the detector to shuttle detecting position and move the latch intothe path of the lay, and said other step of said one area in the next two-pick cycle effecting resetting of said train to normal position, the detector if moved by a misplaced shuttle after said completed settingmoving said train to move the latch out of the path of the lay by a force transmitted positively through said train.

10. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle position detector normally in nondetecting position and a transferrer latch normally out of the path of the lay, positively acting connections between the detector and the latch causing the detector and latch to move in unison from the normal position thereof to transfer position in which the detector is in shuttle detecting position and the latch is in the path of the lay and return in unison to normal position, weft replenishing mechanism which incident to a replenishing operation has initial setting, completed setting and resetting operations, actuator means for the replenishing mechanism, a cam rotating in a two-pick cycle operatively connected to the actuator means, a weft feeler indicating weft exhaustion at the beginning of said twopick cycle when the lay is on front center, the lay and latch subsequent to said completed setting of the replenishing mechanism being in engagement with each other until the lay in rearward motion thereof immediately following a replenishing operation reaches a given point, said cam during the first pick of said cycle giving the actuator means a preliminary motion to hold the indication of the weft feeler and thereafter holding the actuator means stationary until the lay in the rearward movement thereof after indication of weft exhaustion reaches said point and the cam thereafter giving said actuator means a completed motion to effect initial setting of the replenishing mechanism, said detector if moved by a misplaced shuttle subsequent to said completed setting acting through said positively acting connections to move the latch out of the path of the lay, and mechanism operated by said actuator means when the latter is given a completed motion in the next two-pick cycle of the cam effecting resetting of the loom and return of the detector and latch to the normal positions thereof.

11. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay, a cam rotating in a two-pick cycle, an electrically indicating weft feeler indicating exhaustion at the beginning of said two-pick cycle when the lay is on front center, a transferrer latch, a shuttle position detector positively connected to the latch, electric holding circuit means retaining the indication of the weft feeler until the lay in the rearward movement thereof subsequent to indication of weft exhaustion reaches a point at which the lay is incapable of engagement with the latch, said cam in the first pick of the cycle after the lay on the rearward movement thereof has passed said point effective due to retention of said indication of weft exhaustion to cause an initial setting of the loom for a replenishing operation, and said cam on the second pick of the cycle completing the setting of the loom for a replenishing operation, means effective incident to the initial setting of the loom opening said holding circuit, said loom when in the completed setting thereof having the shuttle position detector in detecting position and a transferrer latch in the path of the lay, the detector if engaged by a misplaced shuttle positively moving the latch out of the path of the lay, and said cam in the second two-pick cycle thereof after the lay passes said point effecting resetting of the loom including movement of the latch out of the path of the lay.

12. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a transferrer latch, a cam rotating in a twopick cycle, an electrically indicating weft detector giving indication of weft exhaustion when the lay is on front center at the beginning of said two-pick cycle, a color slide rockable in opposite directions from the normal position thereof operatively connected to the cam, the latch and lay being mutually engaged incident to a weft replenishing operation and becoming disengaged from each other subsequent to a replenishing operation when the lay in the backward movement thereof reaches a given point, holding circuit means retaining the indication given by the feeler until after the lay passes said point in the rearward movement thereof, said cam having an area effective in the first pick of the cycle after the lay passes said point to give the color slide a rocking movement in one direction to give the loom an initial setting for a replenishing opera tion, means operated by the color slide when the latter has said rocking movement in one direction opening the holding circuit means, said cam in the second pick of the cycle effective to rock the color slide in the opposite direction to give the loom a completed setting for a replenishing operation, and said cam in the first pick of the next two-pick cycle effecting resetting of the loom by said area of the cam.

13. In a weft replenishing loom operating in a two-pick cycle beginning when indication of weft exhaustion is given and having a lay which on a replenishing operation remains in engagement with a transferrer latch for a given period, the lay being at a given point in the backward motion thereof at the end of said period, an electric detecting circuit closed upon indication of weft exhaustion at the beginning of said twopick cycle when the lay is on front center, an electric holding circuit closed upon closure of the detecting circuit, a solenoid circuit closed as long as the holding circuit is closed, a color slide operatively connected to the cam, said cam having an area cooperating with said color slide after the lay reaches said point and dependent upon closure of the solenoid circuit to effect an initial setting of the loom for a weft replenishing operation, and means effective incident to movement of the color slide opening said holding circuit, said cam in the second pick of the cycle cooperating with the color slide to effect a complete setting of the loom for a replenishing operation, and said cam effective through said area thereof in the next two-pick cycle thereof effecting resetting of the loom after said period.

14. In a weft replenishing loom in which a weft replenishing operation occurs in a twopick cycle, a setting shaft movable from the normal position thereof to transfer position to set the loom for a replenishing operation, an arm secured to and moving with said shaft, an actuator having a range of movement in a twopick cycle effective in the first pick of the cycle while in one part of said range of movement to effect an initial setting of the loom for a replenishing operation in the event of indication of weft exhaustion and effective in the second pick of the cycle While in another part of said range of movement to move said shaft from the normal position thereof to the transfer position thereof, and lost motion resetting connections between said actuator and shaft enabling said actuator to move throughout said range of movement without affecting said shaft when the latter is in the normal position thereof and effective when the shaft is in the transfer position thereof and said actuator moves in said one part of said range of movement to cooperate with said arm to return said shaft to the normal position thereof.

ALEXANDER. C. KRUKONIS.

WALTER H. WAKEFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 20 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,222,995 Turner Nov. 26, 1940 25 2,525,148 Rinne et a1. Oct. 10, 1950 

